Page 108 of Knot Happening Again

Leon's eyes widen, a flicker of hope crossing his face before he quickly suppresses it. I press on before he can interrupt.

"You're all pack, but none of you are involved romantically, right?" I ask, looking pointedly between them.

Rhys shakes his head, clearly wondering what I'm getting at. "No, we aren't."

"Then there's no reason Leon and I can't belong to the same pack without being together, either," I say with a shrug. "We're all adults here."

The silence that follows is deafening. I watch as Leon and Rhys exchange a look, something unspoken passing between them. Finally, Leon speaks, his voice rough with emotion.

"Ophelia, I... I don't know what to say. You're far kinder than I deserve."

I laugh, the sound harsh and bitter even to my own ears. "This isn't about kindness, Leon. It's about practicality. About moving forward and doing what's right for the pack."

Leon's eyes widen, his mouth opening and closing as he struggles to find words. The sight of him floundering would have once given me a twisted sense of satisfaction. Now, I feel nothing but a dull ache in my chest.

Rhys clears his throat, breaking the tense silence. "If that's whatyouwant, Ophelia, we'll make it work."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. The reality of what I'm agreeing to settles over me like a heavy blanket. Can I really do this? Can I live under the same roof as the man who shattered my world?

Leon leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I can keep my apartment for a while," he offers, his voice hesitant. "Give you time to adjust to living in the mansion without me crowding you."

I shrug, aiming for nonchalance even as my heart races. "I don't care what you do. I'm content to ignore your existence the way you ignored mine for years."

He flinches as if I've struck him, pain flashing across his face. "Ophelia, I didn't—I searched for you, I swear I?—"

I hold up a hand, cutting him off. "I don't want to hear it." My voice is ice, brittle and cold. "I don't believe you, for one thing, and even if you're telling the truth, it doesn't matter."

Leon's shoulders slump, defeat written in every line of his body. I press on, needing him to understand.

"This isn't about giving you another chance, Leon. It's about the pack, plain and simple." I meet his gaze, willing him to see the finality in my eyes. "Nothing more, nothing less. I need you to understand that."

He nods, his voice barely above a whisper. "I understand."

Silence descends once more, thick and oppressive. I resist the urge to fidget, to show any sign of weakness.

Rhys reaches over and squeezes my hand again. "Are you sure about this, Ophelia?"

I nod, my throat tight. "I am."

It's the truth. I just can't guarantee I won't come to regret it. Because no matter what I said to Leon, no matter how much I want to believe I'm completely over him… the ache in my chest at his mere proximity tells a different story.

CHAPTER 32

LEON

The punching bag swings wildly as I unleash a flurry of jabs. Sweat drips down my face, stinging my eyes. I blink it away, focusing on the rhythm of my fists against the leather.

"There you are."

Mace's gruff voice cuts through the steady thump of my punches. I pause, steadying the bag with one hand as I turn to face him.

"Hey, big guy. What's up?"

He crosses his arms, his expression a mix of concern and annoyance. "You tell me. Haven't seen much of you lately. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were still in that self-imposed exile of yours."

I grab my towel, wiping the sweat from my face. "Just been busy. You know how it is."

Mace snorts. "Busy avoiding Ophelia, you mean."

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